Vaginal syringe.



No. sagsaa. Patented Ian, 2|, i902.

n. H. 500v & J. B. JOHNSTON.

VAGINAL SYRI'NGE. (Application filed May 31, 1901.)

(Ndllodel) WITNESSES: lNVENTElRS-Z inst? 3. Tahnsi-on.

' BY w ATT YS.

THE nnams PETERS 00.. PHOTD-L|THO.. WASHINM'OM. DV (:4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

RICHARD H. EDDY AND JOSEPH B. JOHNSTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

VAG'INAL SYRINGE.

SFEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,698, dated January21, 1902.

Application filed May 31, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD H. EDDY and JOSEPH B. JOHNSTON, citizens ofthe United States of America, and residents of Provideuce, in the countyof Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Vaginal Syringes, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to certain novel improvements in vaginal syringes,so called; and it consists, essentially, of a tube member open at eachend, having its walls provided with a comparatively coarselongitudinallyextending helically-arranged groove, the latter having aconcave form cross-sectionally and being integral with an intermediateconnecting-rib or slightly-raised portion having a convex shape, all aswill be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In syringes of the class referred to it has been usual heretofore toprovide them with straight cylindrical glass tubes. As thus constructedthe device when in. use is liable to become accidentally displacedunless considerablecare be exercised in maintaining it in position. Weare aware, too, that it has been proposed to provide the tubes ofsyringes or douches with annular corrugations or ridges; but such tubesdo not wholly fulfil the requirements desired-that is to say, in theformer case, wherein a smooth tube is employed, the fluid or liquid usedfor flushing or irrigating is forced out of the tube by means of theattached bulb in a comparatively straight and solid stream, so thatconsiderable time is required to thoroughly reach and cleanse all theparts. In the case of the syringe having a tube provided with annularridges the device may to some extent be retained in position better thanone unprovided with such ridges; but its action in forcing the fluidtherefrom is substantially the same as though the tube were smooth ornon-corrugated.

The object We seek to attain is to overcome the objections ordisadvantages inherent in syringes of the class forming the subject ofthe present invention, and to that end We provide the walls of the opentube with a coarse helical groove throughout, as before stated, therebyalso forming a correspondingly-shaped groove in the inner surface ofSerial No. 62,477. (No model.)

the tube. As thus constructed the tube can .be readily inserted, theadjacent membrane or parts when in use snugly fitting the surface of thetube and forming a water-tight joint or packing. By simply turning thedevice in the proper direction it can be inserted to the desired extentand maintain itself in position, the same being water-tight, as juststated. It can be readily withdrawn by turning it in a contrarydirection and is not liable to drop out. By means of the inner helicalgroove the charge of flushing fluid is when inserted as in usedischarged and distributed in a much more efficient and expeditiousmanner, since the charge enters in a more broken and spiral form, whileat the same or less time the noveli nterior construction of the tubecauses the charge to be deflected or diffused laterally, thus reachingand acting upon all the parts and thoroughly cleansing or treating them.

The accompanying drawing shows a side elevation, in partial section, ofa vaginal syringe embodying our improvement. It is composed of'aflexible rubber bulb member 19, substantially as usual, and the tubemember a, the whole being indicated by A. The said tube a may be made ofglass, hard rubber, or other suitable material. The inlet end a isreduced in diameter to form a should ered head, over which is stretchedthe neck b of the said bulb, also as common. The other or discharge endmof the tube is open and out at an angle to the longitudinal axis. Asdrawn, the diameter of the tube is substantially cylindrical andstraight, the same having a continuous shallow helical groove 0 formedin its wall and extending from the outer end to the head 0..Intermediate of and parallel with the groove c'the tubes surface isprovided with the slightly-raised or rib portion a. We prefer to makethe form of said parts 0 c concave and convex, respectively, as clearlyshown. As thus constructed, it will be seen that the interior surface ofthe tube has a helical form corresponding with that of the exterior, thewalls or shell being substantially uniform in thickness throughout.

As before stated, certain forms of construction of the tube'member areold. There inbefore described, the same being open at each end andhaving its Wall provided with alongitudinally-extending helical grooveand acorrespondingly-shaped rib alternating with said groove, and havingone end of the tube adapted to be attached to a flexible tube or bulb,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Providence, 28th day of May, 1901.

RICHARD H. EDDY. JOSEPH B. JOHNSTON.

Rhode Island, this Witnesses:

GEO. H. REMINGTON, J. W. WEEKS.

